Pansies are the little stars of winter gardens. With their bright colors, they bring life to the garden or balcony even in the colder seasons. But how much cold can pansies really tolerate? And how can you optimally care for the delicate plants so that they survive the winter well? Here you will find helpful tips and tricks.
Planting out and acclimatization
When can you plant pansies?In late summer to autumn, ideally in September or October. These plants bloom until late spring after a short winter break.
Choose a spot with plenty of morning light, ideally on the southeast side of the garden. Buildings, walls or bushes can also serve as protection from cold winds.
To maximize frost resistance, pansies should be left in their permanent location for at least two weeks before being exposed to frost. This helps the plants adapt better to their environment and survive frost better. You can find more planting tipsin this post.
Frozen ground and dry winter winds – these conditions can dry out the roots and cause long-term damage to the plant.
Hardy pansy varieties
Here are some particularly frost-hardy varieties:
- Hornveilchen (Viola cornuta):These small-flowered varieties are particularly robust and can survive harsh winters.
- Wild pansies (Viola tricolor):Naturally beautiful and very resistant.
- Garden pansies (Viola wittrockiana): These colorful classicsare relatively hardy and bloom again even after periods of frost.
Tipp: Pay attention to the label when purchasing. Varieties labeled as “hardy,” “frost hardy,” or “frost resistant” are particularly well suited to cold regions. Find out which flowers still tolerate frost wellin this article.
Frost tolerance of pansies depends on several factors, including air and soil temperatures and general growing conditions. Here are some important guidelines:
- Below -4°C:The plants enter a resting phase.
- Below -7°C:There is a risk that the plants will freeze back completely.
Heard in Germanysea Plantura.gardenMost of the country falls into zone 8a, with average low temperatures of -12.2°C to -9.5°C, e.g. B. in the Rhineland, the coastal regions of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. In the southeast, however, the colder zones 7a and 7b dominate, while the northwest is often milder and belongs to zone 8b - with temperatures of -9.4 to -6.7 °C.
In general, pansies and horned violets cope well with frost.According to My Beautiful GardenHybrids are hardy down to -15 degrees Celsius and usually only temporarily stop flowering when there is frost, especially between Christmas and mid-February. During this time you should protect the plants with mulch or fleece. You may be able to use pots with insulating materials such asWrap in bubble wrap.
More tips for the winter balcony
Pansies are a wonderful choice for winter balcony plants. Combine them with other hardy plants such as heather or ivy to create an attractive arrangement. Make sure that your balcony plants are protected from the wind and avoid saucers in which water can collect - this leads to problems in the event of frost.
Caring for pansies in winter
To ensure that your pansies stay healthy and blooming, regular care is important. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Sunny locations:Make sure the plants get at least six hours of sunlight daily.
- Water:Check soil moisture regularly. Pansies require evenly moist soil, even in winter. If there is a lack of snow, additional watering is required. Regular watering is also important in sheltered locations, such as under canopies or on the balcony.
- Fertilize:Give potted plants a phosphorus-rich fertilizer (e.g. NPK 15-30-15) every two weeks and bedding plants once a month.
- Flower care:Remove spent flowers regularly. This will encourage the plant to form new buds.
Do pansies recover after a frost?
Yes, pansies can often recover after a frost, especially in warmer regions. Even if the plants are frozen, there is a good chance that they will sprout again when temperatures rise.
- Their roots are more robust than many other annual plants.
- After a frost and some sun they often set new buds.
How do I save frozen pansies?
Once the frost has passed, you can take the following steps to breathe new life into your pansies:
- Remove damaged leaves:Cut off frozen or mushy leaves and flowers.
- Adjust location:Place potted plants in a sunny spot to warm them up.
- Fertilize:Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus to promote root growth and flower formation.
- Ensure moisture:Make sure the soil remains evenly moist without causing waterlogging.
With a little patience and care, most pansies will recover from frost damage and bloom again.
Whether in a bed or in a pot – with the right preparation and care, you can get your pansies safely through the winter. Even after a frost, these hardy flowers have an amazing ability to recover. With a little attention, they will not only bloom in autumn and winter, but will also delight you with their colorful splendor in spring.
